A great idea for brides-to-be to pick up some pre-loved wedding bargains.

By Ruth Williams

Planning a wedding can be a time-consuming and costly affair. Where do you find all the details to make the day perfect, what do you do with them afterwards?

Brighton Bridal Boot Fayre may be the answer. It is organised by newly-wed friends Charlie and Emily who found themselves surrounded with left-over wedding paraphernalia after their big days.

The idea is that brides and grooms-to-be can buy second-hand wedding decorations and accessories or even a dress for a fraction of the cost of buying new.

Charlie said: “It's so nice to give other brides out there the option of buying recycled stuff for their weddings because it can be so expensive! Not everyone has twenty grand to throw at just one day!”

The women ran the first Bridal Boot Fayre last June and were overwhelmed with the response. For the second event there will be 21 stalls and a selection of businesses including a florist and button bouquet designer, a bunting maker, a photographer, lingerie designer as well as an alternative therapist offering treatments to de-stress for the big day.

Charlie, who married last year, said she was pleased that her things had been passed on to someone else who would get pleasure out of them. She described her flat as looking like a wedding shop due to everything she had bought for her big day so was pleased to be able to sell it all on.

‘Do-it-yourself weddings’ are growing in popularity. Some brides choose to make their invitations or ask friends and family to assist with making the cake, decorations and flower arrangements.

For anyone keen to find quirky or unusual decorations and accessories for their day without spending months looking through charity shops and markets, the Bridal Boot Fayre could be the solution to their problem.

Charlie said: “We will have a selection of brides who will be selling their items. Some have had very grand weddings with no expense spared; others have had more low key, DIY weddings, so there really is something to suit everyone's tastes.”

The Brighton Bridal Boot Fayre takes place on March 10th at Friends Meeting, Ship Street, Brighton, between 12 and 4pm.